GW is maintaining their option of releasing a Cathayan army for Warhammer. In their recent publications they have increased the mention count of Cathay (same with Chaos Dwarfs) and obviously they would need every Warhammer army to be a plausible opponent for another faction fluff-wise. Same with their excuses for Beastmen living in any imaginable forest and Lizardmen having small jungle sections all over the world.

You can mod your warbands to fit the setting. For example I am in the middle of making a Lizardmen Warband that has been modded to all have fur on their chest, arms, and legs. So they are a strand of Lizardmen that have adapted or evolved, or blessed by the Old Ones to protect the Northern Wastes.

So take your Dark Elves and Mod them to look more Silk Road/Norse. It's a fun way to get into a Campaign, and it gives you a reason to use all those tools, bits and green stuff you've collected over the years.